gamper



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1. P. GAMPER.

APPARATUS FOR LOWBRING GOFFINS INTO GRAVE S. No. 827,785. Patented Oct. 6, 1885.

N PETER5. PmmLimu n hur. wumnglun. D. C.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

F. GAMPER.

APPARATUS FOR LOWERING GOFFINS INTO GRAVES.

No. 327,785. Patented Oct. 6, 1885.

N PETERS. Phnta-Lithcgraphcr, Wzhhmton. D C.

(,No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3. F. GAMPER.

APPARATUS FOR LOWERING GO'FFINS INTO GRAVES.

No. 327,785. Patented Oct. 6, 1885.

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o 6 5 f 6 h 2 N PETERS, Phuw-Ulhogmulmr, Wan'm mn. D. c.

STATES UN ITE I'l FRANZ GAMPER, OF SALZBURG, AUSTRIA-HUNGARY.

APPARATUS FOR LOWERING COFFINS INTO GRAVES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 327,785, dated October 6, 1885.

Application filed December 11, 1884. Serial No. 150,102. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANZ GAMPER, a sub ject of the Emperor of Austria-Hungary, and a resident of Salzburg, in the Empire of Austria-Hungary, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for Lowering Coffins into Graves or Tombs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has relation to a novel apparatus for lowering coffins into graves; and it consists in the novel construction and arrangement of devices, including a bier or supporting-frame and a system of ropes, pulleys, and appurtenant mechanism, by means of which the coffin, after being placed upon the bier or frame and a locking device or detent disengaged, the coffin will slowly descend into the grave or tomb automatically and by its own gravity, all as hereinafter fully described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the coffin-lowering apparatus; Fig. 2, a plan view of the same. Figs. 3 and 4 are end views partly in section, and Fig. 5 an end view of windlass and drum located on either side thereof. Fig. 6 is an end view showing the Windlass and brake. Fig. 7 is a side view of the same. Fig. 8 is a side view of the adjustable governor. Figs. 9 to 24 are detail views.

In the drawings, a designates the frame of the lowering apparatus, of rectangular skeleton form, consisting of side and end bars supported on legs a", and provided with pivoted folding handles a a and extensible 0r telescopic handles a the latter fitting sockets in the ends of the frame, from which they may be withdrawn.

6 b designate two shafts journaled in bearings at the ends of the frame, and located at either side thereof, below the side bars. These shafts carry and have keyed to each a drum, 0, for the reception of the ropes s 8. On each drum is a ratchetwheel, c,with which engages a pawl, 0

d designates the automatic disengaging devices, by the action of which the coffin-sustaining devices are released when it is desired to lower the coffin. Said disengaging device consists of the interlocking hook-levers d d and the disengaging-lever (1 which operates when its lower end strikes the ground. The

lever d consists of a bent bar carrying at its lower end a roller, (1*, and atits upper end a roller, d, upon which the coffin rests. The hook-lever d is pivoted to the lever d while the lever d is connected to the shaft of the roller (2, the lever jaws or hooks being interlocked between the two pivotal points.

The disengaging devices, of which there are two, are located below and between the sides of the frame, and on line, respectively, with the drums c 0. The ropes s s, which are connected to said drums, are each connected to the levers (1 (Z at their respective ends, as shown in Fig. 15. Vhen the lever d bears upon the ground at the bottom of the grave, the rollers d journaled to the levers d d at their inner ends, bear against the disengaging-jaws of the lever d, and are thereby disconnected and allowed to separate. so as to permit the coffin to descend to the bottom of the grave.

\Vhen the coffin is first placed upon the frame and supported by the rollers d, the ropes s s are wound upon the drums c c, which are normally locked by means to be hereinafter described. When the coffin is to be lowered into the grave, the locking mechanism is disengaged, so as to allow the drums to turn and the ropes to unwind therefrom by the weight of the coffin imposed on said ropes through the medium of the rollers d and the interlocking levers b and d The locking mechanism and the speed-controller and brake device are located at one side of the frame a. As will be seen, a double winding-drum, '6 is suitably journaled at the end of the frame, about midway between its sides, while on the ends of the shafts b b are fitted pulleys Z Z, connected to the drumi by means of ropes 1', through which they transmit the motion imparted by said shafts b b to said drum 2', such motion being produced by the operation of lowering the coffin, and thereby unwinding the ropes s s from the drums c c.

m designates a fan receiving motion from the drum i through an intermediate train of gearing, m m m and designed to control and equalize the movement of the coffin-lowering devices and obtain a uniform speed under varying loads.

In order to further control and regulate the descent of the coffin, and adapt the lowering devices to different weights of coffins, I pro- IOC vide an adjustable governor, p, which consists of a crank, 19, an adjusting shackle or link, 12, and a lever, p attached to one of the adjusting-screws and connected to a friction or brake band,p which embraces the hub of one of the gear-wheels of the train m, &c. By more or less tightening this band the resistance to the action of the lowering mechanism is varied and the amount of resistance regulated. By means of an index-hand, 19 on the shaft of the crank, and a scale-plate, 19 the weight for which the brake is adjusted may be indicated.

f f designate brake-jaws hinged together and forming a clamp to embrace the hub h of the drum The arms or extensions f of said jaws terminate in threaded bosses, and are connected by an adj usting-screw', g, by means of which the pressure or friction of the brake upon the hub h may be controlled. The object of these brake-jaws is to lock the lowering mechanism until itis to be brought into play. When the coffin is in position to be lowered, the jaws ff are released from the hub h by means of the screw 9, and the lowering-mechanism allowed to come into action. coffin has been lowered the ropes s s are rewound upon the drums c c, and the levers d d d restoredby means of the winding mechanism t t t connected to the shaft of the drum i, the ratchet and pawl t t preventing a rotalion in the wrong direction.

A ratchet, k, and pawl it also connected to the drum i, prevents unwinding of the winding mechanism during the winding up of the ropes s s. a

drums and disengaging devices, whereby when After the the coffin is lowered into the grave the disengaging devices will be automatically released from the coffin, as set forth.

2. In an apparatus for lowering coffins into graves, the combination, with a supportingframe or bier provided with drum-shafts carrying rope-drums, of retaining devices connected with said shafts and adapted to hold the same in check, and disengaging devices which support the coffin while it is descending into the grave or tomb, and which aut0- matically release said coffin when said disengaging devices come in contact with the bottom of the grave or tomb, substantially as described.

3. In an apparatus for lowering coffins into graves, comprising a frame-work or bier, a, drum-shafts b b, drums c c keyed thereto, ropes s s, and automatically-disengaging devices by which the coffin is supported when descending, the combination, with said shafts b b, of a pair of drums, t 2', located between said shafts, pulleys Z Z upon the ends of said shafts, ropes 1" 9", connecting the drums i z with the pulleys H, a train of gearing, m m m, 850., and a speed-controlling fan, m, all constructed and arranged substantially as described.

4. In an apparatus for lowering coflins into graves, the combination, with the frame a, and the devices, substantially as described, for lowering the coffin into the grave and for controlling the rate of movement of the coffin, of an adjustable governor connected with the fan gearing or train, substantially as described.

5. In an apparatus for lowering coffins into graves, the combination, with the shafts b b, and the fan-gearing m M, of the brake-jaws ff, and the adj listing-screws g g, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have affi'xed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANZ GAM PER.

Witnesses:

O. O. PAGEI, E. G. F. MoELLER. 

